Spot truckload rates and volumes are steady in July, reports DAT

Spot truckload volumes and rates were relatively steady in July, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was released today by DAT Freight and Analytics.

The DAT Truckload Volume Index reflects the change in the number of loads with a pickup date during that month, with the actual index number normalized each month to accommodate any new data sources without distortion, with a baseline of 100 equal to the number of loads moved in January 2015. It measures dry van, refrigerated (reefer), and flatbed trucks moved by truckload carriers.

DAT’s data highlighted the following takeaways for truckload volumes, and rates, for the month of July, including:

• the van TVI, at 249, was down 0.4% compared to June and up 3% annually;
• the refrigerated (reefer) TVI, at 202, was up 2% compared to June and up 11% annually;
• the flatbed TVI, at 314, was down 3% compared to June and up 8% annually;
• national average spot rates mostly were mixed, with van, at $2.05 per mile, up $0.03 over June, reefer, at $2.42 per mile, up $0.05 over June, and flatbed, at $2.55 per mile, off $0.02;
• linehaul rates, which exclude an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge, were largely stable, with van, at $1.63 per mile, flat sequentially, reefer up $0.02, to $1.96, and flatbed down $0.06, to $2.04;
• the monthly average fuel surcharge rose $0.03, to $0.042, for vans, $0.46 for reefers; and $0.51 for flatbeds, marking the highest level of 2025; and contract rates were in sync with fuel surcharges, with contract van, at $2.44 per mile, up $0.04, contract reefer, at $2.78 per mile, up $0.04; and contract flatbed, at $3.08 per mile, up $0.03

DAT observed that July truckload freight volumes were steady, due to summer seasonality being paced by produce and retail goods moving on the road prior to the July 4 holiday, adding that volumes saw a gradual decline over the balance of July.

“The truckload market remains soft with no meaningful shifts in demand or capacity, aside from seasonal bumps and tactics by shippers managing tariffs,” said Ken Adamo, DAT Chief of Analytics. “There are carriers now with low-cost structures and steady customers that are negotiating better contracts, but in general there’s a feeling that freight volumes and rates are stuck. Barring some major event, there is nothing to suggest that’s going to change any time soon.”